More than 42,000 fans flocked to see Brazilian football/soccer legend Ronaldinho play his first game for Rio side Flamengo yesterday (Wednesday, February 2).

The star signing, lured to Flamengo from Italian side AC Milan in January despite a rival bid from UK team Blackburn, is one of Brazil’s most celebrated players, and Flamengo fans have been ecstatic about their team’s superstar player.

Fans held aloft placards to create a giant mosaic reading ‘Welcome R10′, in reference to the player’s shirt number, and wore masks emblazoned with the player’s distinctive features.

Fireworks sounded across the city as the star player made his first appearance on the pitch, with supporters everywhere toasting their hero.

The game itself was less eventful, with Flamengo beating smaller local side Novo Iguacu 1-0 in the Campeonato Carioca, or Carioca Cup.

And while Ronaldinho was a whir of arms and legs who barely stayed still throughout the game, he failed to deliver a goal and made several clumsy mistakes.

Nevertheless, his army of fans remain confident that Ronaldinho, who has signed a four-year contract with the club, will more than live up to expectations.